SAN TAN VALLEY, AZ -- Hana Hornbeck, a fun-loving freshman cheerleader at J.O. Combs High School, is now in a battle for her life.
The 14-year-old wasn't feeling well recently and made a visit to her doctor.
Hana's mother Barbara Hornbeck said her daughter was diagnosed with Giant Cell Myocarditis, "This is all such a bad dream.This disease strikes without warning and shows no mercy."
Giant Cell Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle where there may be no symptoms to alert you something is wrong.
In six short weeks after her diagnosis her health quickly went down hill. Her world changed from a physically-active cheerleading Captain spreading team spirit at her school, to a girl struggling to live on life support.
She was flown to UCLA in California and is now waiting for a new heart.
"A heart has to come available that is a match," said Barbara, who plans to stay at her daughter's bedside until she recovers. "Could be days or months. The challenge is she can't even be listed for transplant till the Giant Cell Myocarditis is cleared. It has the potential to attack the new heart."
Hana's had three open heart surgeries in the past couple of weeks. On October 31st, after her most recent surgery, her mother said she opened her eyes and told her, 'Happy Halloween!' She also said she wished she could be with her friends, Barbara said. "I said I wished the same thing. She then just mouthed the words, 'next year.' She is truly amazing!"
On November 10,
Jimmy's of Chicago in Gilbert will donate 20 percent of the restaurant's profits toward Hana's fund at Wells Fargo.
Deni Daily, a manager at Jimmy's, said the restaurant is helping a Hornbeck family friend and restaurant patron raise money for Hana's medical bills.
"This just came out of the blue, and they're going to need to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover her medical costs," said Daily, who is hoping for a packed house.
There will also be a 5K fun run on Thanksgiving morning called the "Turkey Waddle" at Jack W. Harmon Elementary School starting at 8:30 a.m. The proceeds will go to help the Hornbecks, as well as a teacher at the J.O. Combs School District who has stage 4 breast cancer.
For more information go to http://www.turkeywaddle.com/
"There is so much gratitude I want to show to all the support we have back in Arizona," said Barbara who is touched by the outpouring of concern for Hana.
"We have a long road ahead of us and I am determined to bring Hana home to Arizona," Barbara said. "She wants her life back of school, cheer, dance and friends. What she has endured and survived through is shocking and nothing short of a miracle."
If you're interested in helping, call Jimmy's of Chicago at 480-963-6363 to reserve a table.
